Rotary explosive-engine.



0. F. EDQVIST.

ROTARY EXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED A1 11.7,1911.

1,026,91 1. Patented May 21, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET l.

0 F EDQVIST ROTARY BXPLOSIVB ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7,1911.

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APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1911. 1,026,91 1 Patented May 21, 1912.

6 SHEETS-'SHEET 3.

y? Suva 1.1 oz Wwf 0 P EDQVIST ROTARY BXPLosIvB ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7` 1911. 1,026,91, Patented May 21,1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

0 F BDQVIST ROTARY BXPLosIvB ENGINE.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 7, 1911.

Patented May 21, 1912.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

@lv/Human l @ff C). @ma v 0. F. EDQVIST. ROTARY BXPLOSIVE ENGINE.

APPLIOATION FILED APR. '1, 1911.

1,026,91 1 Patented May 21, 1912.

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UNITED sTATEs PATENT OFFICE'.

40110]? F. EDQVIST, OF DENVER, COLORADO.

ROTARY ExrLosIvE-ENGINE.

v Specication of Letters Patent.

raten'tedMay 21, 1912.

Application tiled April 7, 1911. Serial No. l619,521.

useful Improvements in Rotary Explosive-l Engines; and I do declare the following to 'be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and to the characters of reference marked thereon, which form a part of this specification.

' Myginvention relatesl to improvements in rotary explosive engines. In my improved construction I employ a plurality of cylin- -ders arranged to rotate around a stationary shaft between parallel planes cutting the shaft at right angles to its axis, the laxes of the cylinders being parallelI with said planes. These cylinders are mounted between par- 5 allel disks, the latter being journaled on the said shaft, the pistons of the cylinders being .connected with members which move around the shaft independently of the cylinders, the said members carrying dogs arranged to intermittentlylock the said members together with the pistons against movement while the cylinders are traveling. In the specific constructionillustrated inthe drawing two cylinders only are employed.

It must be understood, however, that a' greater number may be used if desired. Where two cylinders are employed their pistons are alternately locked againstv movement during the travel of` the cylinders un-4 der the influence of the explosive action of the mixture ignited in each cylinder shortly after the cylinderv begins to move away from its piston. This explosiveforce maintains the constant rotary action of the cylinders and the disks to which theyare attached around the` shaft.

45' While the pistons are locked during a part ofthe rotation of the cylinders, as soon as they are released theirconnection with the disks carrying Vthe cylinders is such e that they travel more rapidl, than their respective'cylinders, wherebyt e burned gases are scaveng'ed or exhausted from the cylinders through ports formed in the extremities of the latter, toward which the pistons are travelngduring their relatively ,rapid action.'

The members carrying the dogs for locking the pistons against movement at regucylinders.

explosions'in each cylinder, during a com-` plete rotation, or six explosions in thetwo This is accomplished through the aid of electrically operated sparking mechanism together with valves automatically actuated for the induction of the explosive mixture to the cylinders and its exhaust therefrom.

Having briefiy outlined my improved construction and the principle upon which it operates, I will proceed to describe the same in det-ail, reference beingv madel to the accompanying drawing in which is illustrated an embodiment thereof.

In this drawing: Figure 1 is a vertical se'ction taken lengthwise of the axis of the stationary shaft and 'approximately on the line 1-1, Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a section cutting the shaft at right angles to its axis in the plane o`f the axesof the cylinders. This section is taken on the line 2 2, Fig. 1, the parts being shown in elevation. Fig. 3 is a section taken on the line 3 3, Fig. l, cutting-the valve casings in which the valves for controlling the inlet ofthe explosive mixture and the exhaust of the burned-gases,

are respectively located. Fig. tis an end elevation looking in the direction/of' arrow 4, Fig. 1, the main shaft together with the shaft from which the power developed by Vthe machine is taken being shown in cross section. Fig. 5 is a view looking from the opposite end of the machine from `that shown in Fig. 4, or a view looking in the direction of arrow 5, Fig. l. Fig. 6 is a detail view of an insulating ring employed in connection with the sparking mechamsm. Flg.

sectional view taken on the line 9 9, Fig. 8,

" lookinl toward the left,'vthe section being Ataken etween the-two parts rof which the"v member 8 is com osed. Fig- 10 is a detail .view ofthe locking dogA emplo ed iny connection with the construction Figs. Sand 9. Fig. 11 isl afdiagrammatic' sclosed lin view @illustrating the "sparking mechanism adapted to be employed Vconnection with my improved engine;-V Y. l .10.

lThe same reference characters indicate v 'the same-parts in all the views.

Q Let the numeral v'designate therstatio i ary shaft, which vis mounted in end bearings v of the explosive mixture andthe exhaust of the burned gases respectively.- J ournaled o'n.-

this shaft are twoseparated disks 10.` between which are secured the cylinders,

whichy for conveniencejof reference .will ybe designated 12 and 13 respectively. rIhough .the cylinders are substantially identical,

however, in thesequenceof operatiomjtheir corresponding movements, as.v well as" those of their pistons arereve rsed, and for this reason itV will be convenient to` designate themby different reference characters.

Protr'uding from the body portions ofthe disks 10 and prol'ecting 'radially therefrom in opposite directions, are arms' 14 in which are formed ways 15, in which slide blocks 16, vThe portions "of the cylinders whicliarev adjacent the shaft-are reinforced as shown at 17, and screws 18 are' passed through the disks into the said `reinforcedportions, while other screws 19 are passedthrou-gh the outer portions of the arms 14 and serve to further.

secure the cylinders rigidly to and between the said disks andthe arms 14 ofthe latter.

Interposed between the two disks 10 and having collars 20'surroundingy the shaft and movable freely thereon, are two members 21 each composed of two parts 22 connected by bolts 23 "entering segmental ,members 24 which are in contact with each other, as illustrated in F ig. 8. The two parts 22 are separated and in theirv inner surfaces are formed grooves 25 which are engaged by trunnions 26 formed on a `dog 27 whose inner extremity 28 is adapted to enter recesses 29 formed inthe stationary shaft and arranged at equal intervals around the said shaft. Also located within the grooves 24 land l'bearing against the trunnions of said dogs, are spiral springs 30. One extremity of each spring bears against the outer eiid of the groove as shown at 31, while its inner extremity bears against the trunnions.v By virtue of the action of these springs the inner extremities of the dogs are forcedinto i the said recesses as soon as the dog-carrying members 21 are such position asl to permit this action. Each dog is further connected' with an adjacent piston stem 32 by meansa sidesof the said dog, the latter being cent- .trally slotted-as shown at '36'to receive the said pistonstem. lug. ABy tvirture of this construction and ,arrangement each dogis adapted notonl to automatically'interlock with the shaft, but also toqbe 'automatically :released at predetermined intervals, that, is

to say, as soon as the piston" has reached its outward position lin its cylinder'by virtue .of the movement ofthe cylinder, while the' piston is locked against'travel.

Each dog-carrying member 21' is connected with the outer extremity of a piston stem 32 by means ofA spindles 37 which pass through relatively long collars 38 formed .on the outer extremities.. of the piston stems, and l also through -.registering openings 391 formed in the outer extremities pof the parts These spindles furtherserve to connect the adjacent extremitiesof four pairs of 'arms A 40, two pairs'being located outside of each disk 10 and on opposite sides 'of the path in which the cylinders rotate', the :two pairs .of

` arms on each side being arranged to form a parallelogram, their extremities opposite vthose through whichtlie spindles 37 ass be-v ing pivotally connectedywith the b ocks 16 as shown a't 41, .The extremity of each 'piston stem 32 remote :from the locking-dog,-

ca'rrying member'21 is pivotally connected. f

as shown at 42 with a piston 43 arranged-to,

reciprocate within a cylinder 12 or as. the l' caseA may be.

Journaled on the shaft on opposite sides of the path of the cylinders', are hollow col- -vlars 44 and 45. The chamber 46 of thecollar 44 is in communication through. openings -4,7 with the hollow extremity 8 of the shaft 5,-into which the explosivemixt-ure is v tegral with the hollow collar, their extremities remote from the collar being flanged as shown at 49 and secured to the outer extremity of the cylinder by bolts 5() passing through said Hanges into the cylinder head on opposite sides of a passage 51 in communication with the induction pipe 48. The entrance -of the explosive mixture to each cylinder is'controlled by an inwardly-opening check valve 52 normally held in the closed position by a spring 53 interposed between a skeleton .or spider shaped stop 54 Aand a tension screw 55v threaded on the end of the valve stem 56, the said stem passing through the skeleton sto-p 54 and being movable freely therein. During the inward 'movement of the piston or its movement delivered, and from which itpasses first away from the outer Ahead of the cylinder, the suction produced in the passage 51, which is in communication with the cylinder chamber'thro'ugh an opening 57, results in opening the valve 52 to allow the explosive mixture to enter. the opposite side of the path of the rotating c linder, has a chamber 58 in communication through openings 59 with the hollow portion 9 ofthe shaft 5 for exhaust purposes. This hollow collar 45 is formed integral with exhaust conduits 60 whose extremities remotelfrom the collar are in communication with the outer head of the respective cylinders, the exhaust from the cylinders being regulated by valve 61 engaging seats 62 around exhaust ports 63 which connect the passage 51 in the cylinder heads with the said exhaust conduits. The stem 64 of each valve 61 passes through a stuiiing box 65 adjacent anopening-GG at the outer extremit of the exhaust conduit, whereby a huid-tight joint is formed. This stem 64 projects inwardly, its inner extremity being yequipped with a roller 67 which engages a cam ring 68 fast on the stationary shaft, the

said ring having three cams or vprojections 69 equi-distantly arranged thereon, and so, located'that as the cylinders rotate the inner extremities of the valve stem 64 engage the cams 69 at proper intervals to open the exhaust yvalve at the proper time. As three explosions occur in each cylinder during each complete rotation, it follows that there Vmust be three exhausts of burned gases through each cylinder, and consequently each valve 63 is opened and closed three times during each rotation of its corresponding cylinder. The pressure within each cylinder when the explosion takes place and alsoA during the admission of the explosive mixture, is such as to maintain the exhaust valve 61 normally closed.

Each hollow collar 44 and 45 is equipped on opposite sides wi stuffing boxes 70, whereby Huid-tight joints are formed between the collars and the hollow extremities yof the shaft, thus prevent-ing the escape lof either the explosive'mixture or the burned gases at, these locations.

The sparking mechanism which may be employed in .connection with my improved engine, will now be briefly described, though nothing is claimed inlthis application upon this particular feature.

A relatively large insulating ring 71 surrounds the hollow extremity 8 of the lshaft and is connected with the induction pipes 48 by means of screws 72, which after passing through said rings enter'bosses or pro-y jections 73 vformed on the pipes 48 for the pur ose. By virtue of this connection the sal rings 71 are compelled to rotate laround the shaft 5 with the cylinders, the conduits 48 and thecollar 44. Upon the periphery The hollow collar 45 on of this insulating ring are mounted two contact rings 74 'and 75, which are respectively engaged by contacts 76 and 77 mounted on the stationary supports 7 at'one end of the machine, the said contacts 76 and, 77 being mounted on pins 78 and 79 connected with the supports 7, the said pins ybeing insulated from the supports 7 as shown at 81. From these rings 74 and 75 conductors 82 and 83 lead respectively to the two cylinders 12 and 13 of the engine, where they are connected with sparking plugs 84 and 85. The ins 78 and 7,9 carrying the contacts 76 and 7 respectively as heretofore explained,`are

connected with. conductors 86 and 87 re-.

ers 90 and 91 carried by pins 92,'and 93, ,and

respectively connected with conductors 94 and 95. i

VThe spark plug circuit is diagrammatically disclosed in Fig. 8 of the drawing. The parts-.of the spark plug mechanism heretofore described are disclosedin Fig. 1 of the drawing, and partially'in the other views. The complete circuit, however, is only illustrated in Fig. 8. In this figure the numeral 96 designates an induction coil and 97 a battery orl suitable electrical source. From the pole 98 of this battery a wire 99 leads to the coil' 96, and from this coil wires 86 and 87 lead to the pins 78 and-79 carrying t-he rollers 76 and 77, while from the rings 74 and 75 the lconductors 82 and 83 lead respectively to the spark plugs 84 andy 85, the said spark plugs being connected with the cylinders 13 and 12 respectively. From one extremity of the shaft 5 a wire 100 leads to `the opposite pole 101 of the battery; while the wires 94 and 95 connected with the pins 92 and 93, lead to the spark plug and carry the induced current. Hence every time a contact 89 which is connected with the framework of the machine by means of a screw 102,l is brought into engagement with a cont-act roller 90 or 91 as the case may be, the circuit is closed through one or the other of the spark plugs, and a spark produced Vwithin the cylinder, whereby the mixture is exploded, thc-mechanism being so constructed that the explosions are pr'operly timed.

tFrom the foregoing'description the use and operation of my improved engine will be readily understood. Referring now more particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, l will assume that the cylinders 12 and 13 are in the positions therein illustrated, the piston 43 of the cylinder 12 being at the open or outer extremity of the cyhnder, while the corresponding piston of the cylinder 13 is at the -mner extremity of the latter. 4Under these against rotary travel with its cylinder, by

virtue of the fact that-the locking dog 27 connected with the said stem has its inner extremity in locking engagement wit-h a recess 29 of the shaft 5. Hence assuming that the cylinders together with their disks are in rotary motion around the shaft, as

` is the case when the gine is in operation,

the two cylinders 12 and 13 will continue to travel, while the piston 43 of the cylinder 13 being locked against rot-ary travel, will soon be in the outer extremity of its cylinder, since the`latter is moving away from the piston. lDuring the first part of the move-` ment ofthe cylinder 13 away from its piston, the explosive mixture is drawn into the said cylinder between its vhead and the piston, and shortly afterward by virtue` of the construction and arrangement of the spark-4 ing mechanism, the explosive mixture so drawn into the cylinder is exploded, the explosive force acting to propel the disks 10 and their cylinders in a circular path around the shaft 5. During this operat-ion,

the cylinder 13 traveling away from its piston so to speak, as aforesaid, the blocks 16 are caused to travel Vin the ways ofthe arms 14, the block adjacent the cylinder 13 traveling inwardly, and the block adjacent the cylinder 12 traveling outwardly by vir! tue of the connection and arrangement of the two pairs of arms arranged on' each side of the path of the cylinders, and conected with the locking-dog-carrying members 21 and the blocks 16. During the inward travel vof the block 16 adjacent the cylinder 13, the rotary travel of the pivot screw 41 of the block 16A is comparatively little, while the ycorresponding travel of the spindle, 37 connected with the stem 32 of 'the' piston` 43 of the cylinder 12 is much greater, and since the rotary travel of the l pivot screw-11 correspondsv with the corre- 55 properly timed for this purpose.

sponding travel of the disks 10 and the two cylinders, the piston 43 of the cylinder 12 will travel much faster than its cylinder, and consequently though both are engaged in rotary travel, the piston 43 of the last named cylinder will gradually approach the inner extremity of the said lcylinder and drive out the burned gases through the exhaust port 63 and the connecting elements degrees, or reached the next notch 29 of the shaft 5, in which event the dog will be forced into the said recess and will engage the same in`locking relation, thus locking the piston 43 of the cylinder 12 against rotary travel around the shaft, whereby .the cylinder 12 will travel away from its piston, so to speak. During.'t1'ie first part of this travel the explosive mixture vwill be drawn into the cylinder 12, while shortly afterward the mixture so drawn 1n will be exploded, the force of the explosion acting tov maintain -the rotary travel of the cylinders, their disks 10 and 'connectedv mechanism, around the shaft. While this operation is occurring in the cylinder 12, the locking dog 27 connected with the stem 32 of the piston of the cylinder 13,- will have been released, allowing its piston to travel .inwardly from "the outer extremity of the cylinder by virtue of the face that the piston will travel faster than the cylinder as heretofore explained, whereby the burned lgases will be expelled, preparatory to receiving the next charge of explosive mixture and the ignition of the latter in regular order as heretofore explained.' In this way the cylinders and their `disks are caused to rotate around the shaft 5, whereby power is advantageously developed. This powery is taken from the engine through the medium of a gear 103 made fast tothe hollow collar 45 and rotating therewith, the said gear meshing with a gea-r 104 fast on a shaft .4 I

105 which may be suitably connected to do work of any character.

- Attention is called to the fact that the shaft 5 is slightly cut away adjacent the recesses 29, as shown at A, on the approaching side, in'order toinsure the engagement of the dogs with the recesses when the machine is in. operation. If it were not for this construction the dogs might jump over the recesses, that is to say, if the shaft on the approaching .side were as highabove the bottomlof the notches as on the opposite side. l

Having thusv described I claim is:

1. 'In a rotary explosive engine, the combination with a stationary shaft, of a cylinder mounted to rotate continuously around the shaft, a piston arranged to reciprocate in said cylinder, means for intermittently locking the said piston against travel, means for releasing the piston, and means for varying the speed of the piston with respect to the cylinder.

2.y In a rotary explosive engine, the combination with a stationary shaft, of a cylinder mounted to rotate continuously around the shaft, a piston mounted to reciprocate in saidcylinder, means for automaticallyI and intermittently locking said piston against travlel, means for automatically re-l my invention, what 'myl leasing the piston, and means for varying the speed of the piston with respect to the cylinder.

3. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination with a stationary shaft, of a plurality of cylinders ymounted to rotate continuously around the shaft, pistons mounted to reciprocate in the respective cylinders, means for intermittently locking the pistons against travel, means for automati- -cally releasing thev pistons, and means for travel in alternate order, and means 'for' varying the speed of the rotary travel of the pistons with res ect to the cylinders, substantially'asdescribed. Y

5. In a rotary explosive engine, lthe combination with av stationary shaftof a plurality of cylinders mounted to rotate continuously around the shaft, the cylinders being so arranged that their produced axes do not intersect the. axisof rotation, pistons arranged to reciprocate in said cylinders, means vfor automatically and intermittently locking the pistons against travel,.

means for releasing the pistons, and means for varying the speed of the latter with respect to their cylinders, substantially as described.

6. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination with a stationary shaft, of a cylinder mounted to rotate continuously around the shaft, the cylinder being so arranged that its produced axis will not intersect the axis of rotation, a piston mounted to reciprocate in said cylinder in the direction of its axis, means for automatically and intermittently locking the piston against travel, means for releasing the. piston, and means for varying the speed of the piston with respect to its cylinder. l

7 In a rotary explosive engine, the 4combination with a stationary shaft, of a plurality of cylinders mounted to `rotate conrality of cylinders mounted to rotate continuously around the shaft, the cylinders being so arranged that their axes do not intersect the axis of rotation, pistons arranged to reciprocate in said cylinders in the direction of their axes, means for automatically and intermittently locking the pistons against travel in their respective cylinders in reverse order, means for `automatically and intermittently `releasing the pistons in reverse order, means for varying the speed of Vthe pistons with respect to their cylinders,

valves for admitting explosive mixture to the cylinders, and valves for permitting the escape of the. products of combustion, substantially as described.

9. In a rotary explosive engine, the cornbination with a stationaryl Shaft, of a rality of cylinders, disks between which the said cylinders are secured, the disks being journaled on the shaft, the cylinders being so arranged that their axes do not intersect the axis of rotation, pistons arranged to reciprocate in said cylinders in the direction of the respective axes -of the latter, rmeans for `automatically and intermittently locking the pistons against travel in their respective cylinders, means for automatically releaspluing the said pistons, and means for varying the speed of travel of the pistons with respect to their cylinders, substantiallyas described.

l0. The combination with a stationary shaft, of disks journaled on the shaft and suitably separated, cylinders interposed between the disks and secured thereto, the cylinders being so arranged that` their 'axes do notintersect the axis of rotation, pistons arranged to reciprocate in said cylinders in inder mounted to rotate' around said shaft,

the cylinder being so arrazn ed that its axis does not intersect the axis o rotation, a plston arranged to reciprocate in said cylinder in the direction of its axis, means for locking said piston to the shaft at equi-distant oints in its rotary travel, means for retainlng the piston at predetermined intervals, and means for'varying the rotating speed of the iston with Arespect to the cylinder.

12. T e combination with a stationary shaft, of a cylinder. mounted to rotate around 4 said shaft, the cylinder being so arranged that its axis does not intersect the axis of rotation, a piston arranged to reciprocate in said cylinder in the direction of its axis, means for locking said piston to the shafts "at equi-distant points` in its rotary-travel,

v- 13. The combination with -a .stationaryA shaft, of cylinders arranged to rotate continuously around the shaft and so that theirl axes do not'intersect the axis of rotation, pistons located in said cylinders, means `for locking said-pistons to the shaft at equi-distant points in their rotative travel,-means for releasing one piston simultaneously with the locking of another piston, and means for causing each piston when released to'tr-avel faster than its cylinder, to produce the neces-v sary reciprocating movement.

14. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination with a stationary shaft, of a frame- Work mounted to rotate thereon, cylinders carried h`y said framework and arranged so that theirv axes shall not intersect the axis of rotation', pistonsin said cylinders, members connected to rotate around said shaft independently of the cylinders and 'carrying spring-actuated locking dogs Vadapted to engage recesses formed in the shaft, whereby the said members are intermittently locked to the shaft at predetermined intervals, stems connecting the-pistons with said members, the'stemrextremities being pivoted to the connected parts, the locking dogs being connected with the piston stems at points removed from the points" where the piston stems are connected with the dog-carryingmembers, whereby 4the dogs are released from the recesses of the` shaft at predetermined intervals, blocks radially slidable on the frame-at diametrically opposite points, bars having their extremities pivotallyl connected with said blocks and the said locking-dog-carrying members* at the points where the'piston stems vare l, connected, to forma figure of polygonal shape, and'means for successively [roducing explosions in the l y the latter are continurotated, 'and their pistons intermit- 'ti'ally as described.

"15. In a rotary explosive en ine, the combination with a stationary sha of a framework mounted to rotate thereon, two cylinders earlied by said framework in balanced relation and.. arranged so that their axes shall not intersect the axis of rotation, pistons in said cylinders, two members connected to rotate around said shaft independnected with the piston stems at points removed from' the points where the piston stems arel connected with the dog-carrying members, whereby 'the dogs are released from .the recessesof the shaft at predetermined intervals, two blocks radially slid'-v able on the frame and on opposite sides of the shaft, four'arms having theineXtremit-ies ,l

pivotally connected withsthe said blocks and with the said lockmg-dog-carrying members at the points where the piston stems are connected, to form a parallelogram,and means for successively producing explosions in lthe cylinders, whereby the latter are continuously rotated and 'their pistons intermit-v tently rotated, substantially as described.

16. In a rotary explosive engine, the combination with a shaft', vof a framework mounted to rotate thereon, 'cylinders carried 90 by the said framework in balanced relation and arranged so that `their axes shall not `intersect the axis of rotation,.pistons in the said cylinders, members connectedto rotate around thesaid shaft independently of the cylinders, and carrying spring-actuated lockingdogs adapted to engage recesses formed in the shaft,- whereby the said members are intermittently locked to the shaftat predetermined intervals, stems connecting the pistons with said members, the stem extremities. being pivoted to 'the connected parts, blocks radially slidable on the frame, bars having their extremities pivotally connected with said blocks 'and with the said 105 locking-dog-carrying members at the points where the piston stemsv are connected, to forma figure of polygonal shape, means for successively producing explosions Yin the cylinders while the lat-ter are continuously and their lpistons intermittently rotated, normallyclosed spring-actuated valves for admitting explosive mixture to the cylinders by suction, exhaust valves having radially varranged stems, and a collar fast on the 115l shaft, and having cams which the inner extremities of the exhaust valve stem engage to open said palves at properly timed inter'- vals, substantially as desired.

In testimony whereof I aiiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

OLOF F. EDQVIST.

Witnesses:

F. E. Bewan, n WILMA H.' 

